The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-02-03
CluYerius's Pastor.

In Inc last issue of the Baltimore
Baptsst Ito which journal ,heis a regular.
contributor) Rev. DR.. catcher has q let
ter on the last days Of Cluverius. After
aketehing the case very briefly, the doctor
says:
It fell:to my lot to be the prisoners
pastor in his prison life, and as one Of
those who were left in doubt as to the
justice Of his sentence, / found my posi-
tion one Of indescribable perplexity aud
sadness. I sought honestly to probe his
hearE and bring out his bloody secret if
it was there. In that unpleasant task !
had the help of some and The constant
counsel of Others. If my methods were
not wise, they we're at least approved by
men whose judgment and wisdom have
learned to trust in other things. The
prisoners family, while protesting their.
belief in his innocence, supported me
thoroughly in my endeavor to lead him
to an open confession Of any connection
that he might have with the murder.
But he was steadfast and indexible in
the avowal of his innocence. He stood
like fortress, and neither warning,
entreaty, nor the dread sight Of the gal
lows, nor the open gateway Of eternity,
could drive him to confession. The
original believers in his guilt maintained
at. first that it was the hope Of escape
from his doom which sealed his lips, and
confidently predicted that with che death
Of his earthly hope would come the con-
fession Of bis guilt. Hope died, but the
confession never came. They we're
willing to stake their faith in his guilt
upon the inevitable certainty of his con-
fession at the last; but when he died
proclaiming his innocence they found in
his refusal to verify their predictions the
proof Of his monstrons heartlessness and
wickedness.
For my part, I did not know. MY
mind was poised in doubt, and so my
lips were silent. If he died q guilty
man, how guilty he wasl If not guilty,
then what pity that such 8 bright
young life should have been qaenched in
D. -
the bleckness Of fshame Those who
doubt must wait. Perhaps their waiting
will not be long; but possibly they will
not know until they stand in the presence
Of Him, before whom all secrets shall be
revealed.
I shrink with unfeigned horror from
the idea of utteriug any over.confdent
belief as to the fate of this young mans
soul. A reporter asked me if | thought
that he was prepared for heaven. That
question did not dare to answer. Those
who wish may talk in exultant rapture
over the salvation Of men who die Oh the
gallows, or with savage authority as to
their inevitable destruction from the
presence of God. I can do neither the
one nor the other of these things. As
best / could I told the young man of the
Infinite grace Of God, and urged him to
hang his hopes upon the cross. With
that, if faithfully done, my duty ended.
It is 8 matter of fact, however, that
the young man met his death with extra.
ordinary composure, and declared in his
last moments that bis trust was in Christ
as his Savior, and that he did not dread
the future. In my judgment, that pro-
fession of faith must have been unayail.
ing, if with his dying lips he refused to
uncover murderer's secret.
But if he was, as he said he was, inno'
cent Of the crime, and his faith was vital
and penitent, then there was for him a
glorious reward beyond the confines OF
that darkness out of which he WAS SO
suddenly thrust.
One thing, and that.the last in his life,
was surprisingly pathetic. 1t touched
me profoundly, and I can never forget it
When on the scafold I told him farewell
calmly and without tremor he said
"Good.bye, doctor; I am very much
obliged to you; please try to comfort
them at home, and give them my love-
These were his last words. I send tbi'
letter with hesitation, but it touches
subject of unspeakable interest to many
under whose eyes it will come. 1t is fo'
them that have written.
= On Tuesday during recess the
school house ct Reidville, spartanburl
County, took fire on the roof and wal
burned down. 1t was handsome ant